Post-accident debate: Is the Rhine riverbank perilous enough?
A serious accident occurred on August 26th between a cyclist and an e-scooter rider on the Rhine promenade in Mainz, Germany. According to the police, the incident involved a 34-year-old e-scooter rider and a 49-year-old cyclist.
The e-scooter rider lost control and collided head-on with the cyclist. Both parties were taken to the hospital following the accident. The cyclist sustained bruises, scrapes, and whiplash, while the e-scooter rider briefly lost consciousness.
This incident is not surprising, according to reader Claus, who finds the increasing number of bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters on the riverside footpath dangerous for pedestrians, families, and children. Claus believes that this won't be the last such accident.
In 2020, there were 16 accidents involving e-scooters in Mainz. The number of e-scooter accidents increased significantly to 55 in 2022, and there were 54 incidents in 2023. In 2024, there were 39 accidents involving e-scooters that resulted in injuries. Out of these, 34 were minor injuries, and 5 were serious injuries.
The police in Mainz have confirmed the accident and often find e-scooters without insurance on the riverbank, which is a criminal offense. Moreover, there have been more violations involving pedelecs and e-bikes, as they are often converted to lightweight motorcycles.
Sadly, in 2024, there were two fatal accidents involving cyclists in Mainz, compared to none in the previous two years. It's worth noting that there are no available data in the provided search results about the number of traffic accidents involving cyclists on the bike path along the Rhine promenade in 2024.
The increasing number of e-scooters and the lack of adherence to safety regulations are causing concern among residents like Claus. It's crucial for e-scooter riders to respect the rules and ensure the safety of all users on the city's roads and footpaths.
